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THINGS IN JARS

by Jess Kidd ‧ RELEASE DATE: Feb. 4, 2020

Creepy, violent, and propulsive; a standout gothic mystery.

Lady detective Bridie Devine searches for a missing child and finds much more than she bargained for.

Bridie Devine is no stranger to the seedy underworld of Victorian London. An accomplished detective with medical training, she sometimes helps the police by examining bodies to determine the cause of death. Bridie recently failed to find a lost child, and when she’s approached about another missing child, the daughter of Sir Edmund Berwick, she isn’t enthusiastic about taking on the case. But Christabel Berwick is no ordinary child. Sir Edmund has hidden Christabel away her whole life and wants Bridie to believe this is an ordinary kidnapping. Bridie does a little digging and learns that Christabel isn’t his daughter so much as his prized specimen. Sir Edmund believes Christabel is a “merrow,” a darker and less romanticized version of a mermaid. Bridie is skeptical, but there are reports of Christabel’s sharp teeth, color-changing eyes, and ability to drown people on dry land. Given that Bridie’s new companion is a ghost who refuses to tell her why he’s haunting her, Bridie might want to open her mind a bit. There’s a lot going on in this singular novel, and none of it pretty. Bridie’s London is soaked with mud and blood, and her past is nightmarish at best. Kidd ( Mr. Flood’s Last Resort , 2018, etc.) is an expert at setting a supernatural mood perfect for ghosts and merrows, but her human villains make them seem mundane by comparison. With so much detail and so many clever, Dickensian characters, readers might petition Kidd to give Bridie her own series.

Pub Date: Feb. 4, 2020

ISBN: 978-1-9821-2128-0

Page Count: 384

Publisher: Atria

Review Posted Online: Sept. 29, 2019

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 15, 2019

LITERARY FICTION | MYSTERY & DETECTIVE | HISTORICAL MYSTERY | GENERAL MYSTERY & DETECTIVE

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by Jess Kidd

THE MOST FUN WE EVER HAD

by Claire Lombardo ‧ RELEASE DATE: June 25, 2019

Characters flip between bottomless self-regard and pitiless self-loathing while, as late as the second-to-last chapter, yet...

Four Chicago sisters anchor a sharp, sly family story of feminine guile and guilt.

Newcomer Lombardo brews all seven deadly sins into a fun and brimming tale of an unapologetically bougie couple and their unruly daughters. In the opening scene, Liza Sorenson, daughter No. 3, flirts with a groomsman at her sister’s wedding. “There’s four of you?” he asked. “What’s that like?” Her retort: “It’s a vast hormonal hellscape. A marathon of instability and hair products.” Thus begins a story bristling with a particular kind of female intel. When Wendy, the oldest, sets her sights on a mate, she “made sure she left her mark throughout his house—soy milk in the fridge, box of tampons under the sink, surreptitious spritzes of her Bulgari musk on the sheets.” Turbulent Wendy is the novel’s best character, exuding a delectable bratty-ness. The parents—Marilyn, all pluck and busy optimism, and David, a genial family doctor—strike their offspring as impossibly happy. Lombardo levels this vision by interspersing chapters of the Sorenson parents’ early lean times with chapters about their daughters’ wobbly forays into adulthood. The central story unfurls over a single event-choked year, begun by Wendy, who unlatches a closed adoption and springs on her family the boy her stuffy married sister, Violet, gave away 15 years earlier. (The sisters improbably kept David and Marilyn clueless with a phony study-abroad scheme.) Into this churn, Lombardo adds cancer, infidelity, a heart attack, another unplanned pregnancy, a stillbirth, and an office crush for David. Meanwhile, youngest daughter Grace perpetrates a whopper, and “every day the lie was growing like mold, furring her judgment.” The writing here is silky, if occasionally overwrought. Still, the deft touches—a neighborhood fundraiser for a Little Free Library, a Twilight character as erotic touchstone—delight. The class calibrations are divine even as the utter apolitical whiteness of the Sorenson world becomes hard to fathom.

Pub Date: June 25, 2019

ISBN: 978-0-385-54425-2

Page Count: 544

Publisher: Doubleday

Review Posted Online: March 3, 2019

Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2019

LITERARY FICTION | FAMILY LIFE & FRIENDSHIP

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Mantel, Woodson on Women’s Prize Longlist

SEEN & HEARD

A CONSPIRACY OF BONES

by Kathy Reichs ‧ RELEASE DATE: March 17, 2020

Forget about solving all these crimes; the signal triumph here is (spoiler) the heroine’s survival.

Another sweltering month in Charlotte, another boatload of mysteries past and present for overworked, overstressed forensic anthropologist Temperance Brennan.

A week after the night she chases but fails to catch a mysterious trespasser outside her town house, some unknown party texts Tempe four images of a corpse that looks as if it’s been chewed by wild hogs, because it has been. Showboat Medical Examiner Margot Heavner makes it clear that, breaking with her department’s earlier practice ( The Bone Collection , 2016, etc.), she has no intention of calling in Tempe as a consultant and promptly identifies the faceless body herself as that of a young Asian man. Nettled by several errors in Heavner’s analysis, and even more by her willingness to share the gory details at a press conference, Tempe launches her own investigation, which is not so much off the books as against the books. Heavner isn’t exactly mollified when Tempe, aided by retired police detective Skinny Slidell and a host of experts, puts a name to the dead man. But the hints of other crimes Tempe’s identification uncovers, particularly crimes against children, spur her on to redouble her efforts despite the new M.E.’s splenetic outbursts. Before he died, it seems, Felix Vodyanov was linked to a passenger ferry that sank in 1994, an even earlier U.S. government project to research biological agents that could control human behavior, the hinky spiritual retreat Sparkling Waters, the dark web site DeepUnder, and the disappearances of at least four schoolchildren, two of whom have also turned up dead. And why on earth was Vodyanov carrying Tempe’s own contact information? The mounting evidence of ever more and ever worse skulduggery will pull Tempe deeper and deeper down what even she sees as a rabbit hole before she confronts a ringleader implicated in “Drugs. Fraud. Breaking and entering. Arson. Kidnapping. How does attempted murder sound?”

Pub Date: March 17, 2020

ISBN: 978-1-9821-3888-2

Page Count: 352

Publisher: Scribner

Review Posted Online: Dec. 22, 2019

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 15, 2020

More by Kathy Reichs

by Kathy Reichs

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Gothic Horror Fiction, Old and New

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By Danielle Trussoni

March 13, 2020

Lately, my favorite fiction has transported me out of the terrors of the present and thrust me back in time. Take Jess Kidd’s utterly mesmerizing third novel, THINGS IN JARS (Atria, 369 pp., $27), set in a Victorian-era London of gargoyles that “vomit rainwater” and “labyrinthian alleys, twisting passages, knocked-up and tumbling-down houses.” Bridie Devine, a pipe-smoking, cross-dressing investigator, walks these streets solving crimes.

The case at the heart of “Things in Jars” is that of a missing child, Cristabel Berwick. Cristabel is a “fair-haired child” who “seems to glow … as if she’s carved from bright marble,” with sharp, strong teeth. She can’t speak, but she can hit shattering high notes with her voice, and her eyes change color, “from alabaster, to slate, to polished jet.” The hunt for her is on.

And what a magical hunt it is. Bridie moves through a Victorian London of ravens and ghosts, apothecaries and circuses, a foggy underworld filled with crypts and stuffy rooming houses. She is accompanied by a handsome ghost named Ruby, a “seafarer and champion boxer” whose tattoos animate in relation to his sentiments.

As we learn more about Bridie, we understand that her talents were formed in the house of a Dr. John Eames, where she grew to admire the specimens Dr. Eames kept in jars, “the human heart … the eye the size of a fist, a miracle of muscle and ventricle … the lung country-clean and pink” that had “drawn millions of breaths before Dr. Eames pickled it.” One day in Dr. Eames’s lab, Bridie discovered an infant in a jar, “sound asleep in its glass womb.” Turning the jar, she sees “at the back of the head, just under the wispy curls at the nape of the baby’s neck, there is a line of scales. Subtle at first, then swelling into a filmy dorsal fin, slight but proud, that follows the spine down to the end in the sweep of a curled tail.” It is a winter mermaid, a “merrow. A memory-reading, dry-land-drowning, man-biting sea lunatic.” The mythology of the merrow and mermaids informs the mystery surrounding the missing Cristabel, and adds layers to Bridie’s investigation.

But it isn’t so much the detective story that makes “Things in Jars” such a triumph. Kidd’s imagination — her ability to imagine a world more magical, darker, richer than our own — is a thing of wonder. She rummages through the layers of Victorian society as if through an old steamer trunk, pulling up all variety of treasures, like pythons and heads in hatboxes. It was a relief to leave the present for Kidd’s imaginary past. Such escapism feels necessary right now, a tonic to the toxicity of the story-cycles of our contemporary moment, where information flashes on a screen and disappears, leaving one bereft of the deeply imagined mythologies — the merrows and mermaids of lore — that have, for centuries, sustained us.

It’s not a far leap from Bridie’s London to the mannered, opulent 19th-century Paris of Gaston Leroux’s THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA (Poisoned Pen Press, 283 pp., paper, $14.99). First serialized in France’s Le Gaulois magazine — and subsequently transformed by adaptations like Andrew Lloyd Webber’s long-running musical — the recently reissued novel, first published in 1910, has become one of the most famous ghost stories that no one has actually read.

The novel opens when Christine Daaé, a minor singer at the Palais Garnier opera house, gives a performance that reveals her voice to be “superhuman.” She admits to her childhood friend, Raoul de Chagny, that her talent derives from the Opera Ghost, a spirit sent by her dead father. The Opera Ghost demands Christine’s love, which fills Raoul with jealousy. Add class tension, Parisians being Parisian, and a whole lot of quivering and fainting, and you have one of the most powerful Gothic romances ever written.

If opera and ghosts are not to your liking, you may enjoy K. J. Parker’s comic horror novella, PROSPER’S DEMON (Tor.com, 103 pp., paper, $11.99), in which an exorcist sets out to extract “ Them ” (as he calls the demons he hunts) from Prosper of Schanz, the tutor and confidant to the Duchess of Essen. Prosper doesn’t believe in demons, and resists, but the exorcist knows Them intimately. “To one practitioner They look like horrible insects; to another, ghastly, unnatural fish or rats, or disgusting birds, or shrunken, desiccated children.”

While this story has a fairy-tale setting, and is as far from our present reality as you can get, the exorcist’s humor, and his blasé approach to battling evil spirits, give the story a jokey, modern tone, as if Deadpool had slipped into the body of the Witcher Geralt. Now that is escapism at its best.

Danielle Trussoni’s new novel, “The Ancestor,” will be published in April.

Follow New York Times Books on Facebook , Twitter and Instagram , s ign up for our newsletter or our literary calendar . And listen to us on the Book Review podcast .

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Things in Jars : Book summary and reviews of Things in Jars by Jess Kidd

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Things in Jars

by Jess Kidd

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Published Feb 2020 384 pages Genre: Historical Fiction Publication Information

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About this book

Book summary.

In the dark underbelly of Victorian London, a formidable female sleuth is pulled into the macabre world of fanatical anatomists and crooked surgeons while investigating the kidnapping of an extraordinary child in this gothic mystery - perfect for fans of The Essex Serpent and The Book of Speculation .

Bridie Devine—female detective extraordinaire—is confronted with the most baffling puzzle yet: the kidnapping of Christabel Berwick, secret daughter of Sir Edmund Athelstan Berwick, and a peculiar child whose reputed supernatural powers have captured the unwanted attention of collectors trading curiosities in this age of discovery. Winding her way through the labyrinthine, sooty streets of Victorian London, Bridie won't rest until she finds the young girl, even if it means unearthing a past that she'd rather keep buried. Luckily, her search is aided by an enchanting cast of characters, including a seven-foot tall housemaid; a melancholic, tattoo-covered ghost; and an avuncular apothecary. But secrets abound in this foggy underworld where spectacle is king and nothing is quite what it seems. Blending darkness and light, history and folklore, Things in Jars is a spellbinding Gothic mystery that collapses the boundary between fact and fairy tale to stunning effect and explores what it means to be human in inhumane times.

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"Kidd is an expert at setting a supernatural mood perfect for ghosts and merrows, but her human villains make them seem mundane by comparison. With so much detail and so many clever, Dickensian characters, readers might petition Kidd to give Bridie her own series. Creepy, violent, and propulsive; a standout gothic mystery." - Kirkus Reviews (starred review) "Kidd has created a captivating cast of characters and delivers a richly woven tapestry of fantasy, folklore, and history...Recommend to fans of Ruth Hogan's The Keeper of Lost Things (2017) and Sarah Perry's The Essex Serpent (2017)." - Booklist (starred review) "This pacy piece of Victorian crime fiction delivers chills galore." - The Guardian "This unusual Victorian detective tale is hugely satisfying and beautifully written." - The Times (UK) "Miraculous and thrilling...A few pages in and I was determined to read every word Jess Kidd has ever written. " - Diane Setterfield, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Thirteenth Tale and Once Upon a River "A perfect mix of hilarity, the macabre, and a touch of romance, Things in Jars is ridiculously entertaining, all as it sneaks up and makes you feel things. Would that more books had such daring. The language is perfection. Simply: Jess Kidd is so good it isn't fair." - Erika Swyler, bestselling author of The Book of Speculation and Light from Other Stars " Things in Jars is an extraordinary tale full of dark magic, wicked humour, and hugely entertaining characters all of whom are beautifully drawn. An absolute treat!." - Ruth Hogan, author of The Keeper of Lost Things

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Author Information

Jess Kidd is an award-winning author with a PhD in creative writing from St. Mary's University in London. She grew up as part of a large family from Ireland's County Mayo and now lives in London with her daughter. Her first book, Himself , was shortlisted for the Irish Book Awards.

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Things in Jars (Kidd)

Things in Jars Jess Kidd, 2020 Atria Books 384 pp. ISBN-13: 9781982121280 Summary In the dark underbelly of Victorian London, a formidable female sleuth is pulled into the macabre world of fanatical anatomists and crooked surgeons while investigating the kidnapping of an extraordinary child in this gothic mystery—perfect for fans of The Essex Serpent as well as The Book of Speculation . Bridie Devine—female detective extraordinaire—is confronted with the most baffling puzzle yet: the kidnapping of Christabel Berwick. Christabel is the secret daughter of Sir Edmund Athelstan Berwick, and a peculiar child whose reputed supernatural powers have captured the unwanted attention of collectors trading curiosities in this age of discovery. Winding her way through the labyrinthine, sooty streets of Victorian London, Bridie won’t rest until she finds the young girl, even if it means unearthing a past that she’d rather keep buried. Luckily, Birdie's search is aided by an enchanting cast of characters, including a seven-foot tall housemaid; a melancholic, tattoo-covered ghost; and an avuncular apothecary. But secrets abound in this foggy underworld where spectacle is king and nothing is quite what it seems. Blending darkness and light, history and folklore, Things in Jars is a spellbinding Gothic mystery that collapses the boundary between fact and fairy tale to stunning effect and explores what it means to be human in inhumane times. ( From the publisher .)

Author Bio • Birth—N/A • Raised—London, England, UK • Education—Ph.D., St. Mary's (London) • Awards—Costa Short Story Award • Currently—lives in London Jess Kidd is the award-winning author of Himself (2016), Mr. Flood’s Last Resort (2017), and Things in Jars (2020). She has a PhD in creative writing from St. Mary’s University in London. She grew up as part of a large family from Ireland’s County Mayo and now lives in London with her daughter. Her first book, Himself , was shortlisted for the Irish Book Awards. ( From the publisher .)

Book Reviews This unusual Victorian detective tale is hugely satisfying and beautifully written…. Kidd gives the world what is instantly one of fiction's great spectral double acts. London Times ( UK ) This pacy piece of Victorian crime fiction delivers chills galore…done one with panache…. Her imagination runs wild, in tightly controlled prose. Her concision makes the book feel like a high-pressure jar. Guardian ( UK ) A twisting, precis-defying plot…. Arresting, funny and well-written. Sunday Times (UK) Kidd has fashioned enjoyable, indelible characters and a plot that keeps readers guessing, smiling and maybe even flinching. Minneaolis Star Tribune An enchanting mix of fact and fairytale for those looking for an out of the ordinary mystery. Huffington Post Set in 1863 London…. Vividly sketched, larger-than-life characters…compensate for the glacial pace and the underdeveloped plot. Penny-dreadful fans will delight in this stylish tale, but readers seeking a satisfying puzzle should look elsewhere. Publishers Weekly Kidd's prose is a river of detail, metaphor, and jarringly apt turns of phrase, bringing to life all too vividly the grotesque maze of human wickedness that Bridie threads…. Fans of the macabre will be mesmerized by this horrific gothic tale, but some may be disturbed by the overt, grisly details. — Sara Scoggan, Fishkill, NY Library Journal (Starred review) [A] captivating cast of characters and delivers a richly woven tapestry of fantasy, folklore, and history. The atmosphere is thick with myriad unpleasant smells on offer, and readers may find themselves wrinkling their noses, but they will keep turning the pages. Booklist (Starred review) Kidd is an expert at setting a supernatural mood…. With so much detail and so many clever, Dickensian characters, readers might petition Kidd to give Bridie her own series. Creepy, violent, and propulsive; a standout gothic mystery. Kirkus Reviews

Discussion Questions 1. Jess Kidd evokes Victorian London through all five senses. What descriptions brought the city alive for you? Were there any parts of Kidd’s London that felt familiar, or some that felt new? 2. Gan Murphy advised Bridie, “When in doubt, take it apart, girl” (page 80). How does Bridie “take things apart” in Things in Jars ? 3. The detective is a familiar figure in Victorian-era fiction. Discuss how Kidd subverted your expectations of a traditional detective—or did she? 4. How would you describe Mrs. Bibby? What defines her as a character? 5. In addition to the merrow, there are many references to mythology from various cultures, including character names like Euryale (one of the Greek Gorgons and a sister of Medusa), Father Thames, and Herne the Hunter, and creatures such as the kraken and the raven. How do these uses of mythology influence the tone and spirit of the novel? 6. Bridie has two love interests in the novel: Ruby Doyle, and Valentine Rose of Scotland Yard. What do the two men have in common? How are they different? 7. Were you surprised to learn who attacked Eliza? How does the revelation affect Bridie? 8. Storytelling is woven into Things in Jars in various ways, including through folklore and family histories. What do you think the author is trying to achieve with these layers of storytelling? 9. How do the worlds of magical realism and science complement each other in this novel? Do you think the author blends them together successfully? 10. There are many writers, poets, and works of literature mentioned by Kidd, including Charles Dickens. In what ways do you see a Dickensian influence in Things in Jars ? What elements of plot, characterization, and setting remind you of his novels? 11. What aspect of Christabel/Sibeal most intrigued you? Although this character does not speak, what are you able to learn about her personality? What do you think she and Bridie might have in common? 12. How did you react after learning the truth about Ruby Doyle? Discuss your impression of Bridie and Ruby’s relationship from start to finish. 13. Transformation is at the center of Things in Jars : a child transforms into a mermaid; Bridie remakes herself in childhood and dons disguises throughout her investigation; Cora’s life is changed by a new love; characters live, die, and even return as ghosts. In your opinion, which character undergoes the greatest transformation, and why? ( Questions issued by the publishers .)

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Things in Jars review: A wonderful portrait of Victorian London

Her descriptions of the city ring rich and poetic, with seamless pockets of elegance.

Author Jess Kidd’s dialogue is knife-sharp and often very funny. Photograph: Dara Mac Dónaill/The Irish Times Photograph: Dara Mac Donaill / The Irish Times

If there was an Oscar ceremony for books, then Jess Kidd’s Victorian mystery Things in Jars would surely sweep the board. The book’s heroine, Bridie Devine, is a shoo-in for Best Female Character in a Leading Role. A detective with a talent for reading corpses in a London “awash with the freshly murdered”, Bridie is rumoured to wear a dagger strapped to her thigh, smokes a pipe of Prudhoes Bronchial Balsam Blend – “you add lots of Prudhoe’s Blend for colourful thoughts and triple that amount for no thoughts at all” – and is “captain of herself” we are told.

Best Male Character goes to Ruby Doyle, the ghost of a champion boxer who rises from his grave clad only in a top hat, unlaced boots and white drawers to traipse around London after Bridie. His rival for her affections is Insp Valentine Rose of Scotland Yard, who, Ruby concedes, has the advantage at least of being living. Together they form the most affecting supernatural love triangle since Whoopi Goldberg channelled Patrick Swayze for Demi Moore in Ghost.

The frontrunner for Best Female Character in a Supporting Role is Bridie’s terrifying 7ft tall housemaid, Cora Butter. But there’s another contender in the form of six-year-old Cristabel Berwick, an “oddity of nature” with pike teeth, who smells of the sea and draws people’s memories out of them. Cristabel has been kept hidden away from the world in her father’s country mansion, her existence known only to four people, until the night she disappears. Bridie is called on to investigate her kidnapping, which may or may not be connected to the discovery, behind the wall of the crypt in Highgate Chapel, of the bodies of a woman and her infant child.

Comparisons between Jess Kidd and Gabriel Garcia Marquez are well made, but the magical realism of Things in Jars is pure London-Irish

Stranger yet, Cristabel’s abduction seems to have brought on a surreal weather event. Amid torrential rain the Thames rises, flooding basements and overwhelming cesspits. Choral music is heard from the river, either sung backwards or in a foreign language. Comparisons between Jess Kidd and Gabriel Garcia Marquez are well made, but the magical realism of Things in Jars is pure London-Irish and no more implausible than its historical context. This is a world where collectors of curiosities compete with circus impresarios to acquire nature’s more remarkable specimens, among them the unfortunate Cristabel. Surgeons perform for paying audiences, hence the etymology of the term “operating theatre”, and there is one unforgettable scene where Bridie, disguised as a man, witnesses an anaesthetic-free amputation at St Bart’s. “There’s just not the same entertainment when a patient sleeps through” we’re told later in the novel.

Kidd is a writer who’s not afraid of having fun, as the passage above suggests, but that’s not to say that Things in Jars is a frivolous book. For all its humour and colour, and there’s plenty of both, this is a story of serious evil. The cruelty of Cristabel’s abduction is shocking, but it’s by no means the only instance of cruelty in the book. Babies are poisoned, unsuspecting patients mutilated. Set against such horror – and Kidd does not flinch in serving it up to us – Bridie’s humanity is all the more moving, but it also makes of the novel something timeless, for it’s not just in Victorian England that kindness has the power to prevail over cruelty.

Macabre dealings may be the subject matter of Things in Jars, but tenderness is at the heart of it. From the ethereal sweetness of the romance between Bridie and Ruby Doyle, to the love affair between Cora Butter and a circus owner’s snake-charmer wife, it’s the good that outweighs the bad and, in so doing, reveals Kidd’s range as a writer. Her dialogue is knife-sharp and often very funny. Her descriptions of London are rich and poetic, with pockets of beauty, like the herons on the river who listen to “the thin high-song of the mud-larks, a song of things lost and found, of spools and nails, bones and coins and copper wire.”

A city that revolves around the river, with "watercraft of every size negotiating the beneficent . . . mud-slickened, under-towed Thames

This is a city of smells – of “the reek from the brewery, butterscotch rotten” and the “unwashed crotch of the overworked prostitute and the Christian sweat of the charwoman”. A city that revolves around the river, with “watercraft of every size negotiating the beneficent, polluted, bottomless, shallow, fast-rushing, mud-slickened, under-towed Thames”.

For this wonderful portrait of London, for her beautiful writing and even better storytelling, Jess Kidd richly deserves the award of Best Director. And the Oscar for Best Book? Things in Jars, for all the reasons listed above.

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Things in Jars by Jess Kidd Book Review

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Blending darkness and light, history and folklore, Things in Jars is a spellbinding Gothic mystery that collapses the boundary between fact and fairy tale to stunning effect and explores what it means to be human in inhumane times.

I received this book free to review; however, all opinions are my own. This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive compensation at no cost to you.

Things in Jars

by Jess Kidd

In the dark underbelly of Victorian London, a formidable female sleuth is pulled into the macabre world of fanatical anatomists and crooked surgeons while investigating the kidnapping of an extraordinary child in this Gothic mystery—perfect for fans of The Essex Serpent and The Book of Speculation .

Winding her way through the labyrinthine, sooty streets of Victorian London, Bridie won’t rest until she finds the young girl, even if it means unearthing a past that she’d rather keep buried. Luckily, her search is aided by an enchanting cast of characters, including a seven-foot tall housemaid; a melancholic, tattoo-covered ghost; and an avuncular apothecary. But secrets abound in this foggy underworld where spectacle is king and nothing is quite what it seems.

I really loved Things in Jars ! I’d been waiting to read it because I wasn’t sure what to expect given some of the reviews. However, as we all know, not everyone has the same opinion when it comes to writing styles nor subject matter.

This Gothic story is magical, mystical, and macabre. It transported me to Victorian London with its attention to detail, and the author doesn’t leave out unpleasant details. either. Jess Kidd’s extremely detailed descriptions in Things in Jars help bring the story alive. Just one example is when Bridie arrives at her client Sir Edmund’s home.

“Sir Edmund’s home is an architectural grotesque, the ornate facade the unlikely union of a warship and a wedding cake. A riot of musket loops, carved shells, licorice-twist chimneys, mock battlements, a first-floor prow, and an exuberance of portholes. On the carved stone pediment above the wide front door Neptune cavorts with sea nymphs.”

I just love these details which are much like this throughout the book.

The characters in Things in Jars are well fleshed out and bring life to the story. Some of the characters are just as creepy as the setting, but I’ll let you discover them for yourselves.

The main character, Bridie Devine, is an extremely talented detective. Her attention to detail, and her ability to blend in with the crowds give her an extra advantage. Of course, the police force, with the exception of one, doesn’t care. She’s a woman, therefore, she can’t be smart enough to be an investigator. One particular detective, though, appreciates her skills though, and he’s come to her for help many times. This isn’t one of those times, and the two end up at odds several times during the investigation.

I love the paranormal elements in the story. There are just enough of them , mixed with reality, to make you believe that maybe, just maybe, this could be a true story.

Things in Jars will appeal to readers who enjoy Gothic detective stories. I can’t wait to read more books by Jess Kidd.

Praise for Things in Jars

“Miraculous and thrilling…A few pages in and I was determined to read every word Jess Kidd has ever written.” —Diane Setterfield, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Once Upon a River

“An impossible wonder: a book for everyone, and yet somehow a book just for you…A sumptuous tour of Victorian London, resurrected here with a vigor and vibrancy to rival The Crimson Petal and the White …Utterly magical.”—A.J. Finn, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Woman in the Window

“A perfect mix of hilarity, the macabre, and a touch of romance, Things in Jars is ridiculously entertaining, all as it sneaks up and makes you feel things…Simply: Jess Kidd is so good it isn’t fair.” —Erika Swyler, bestselling author of The Book of Speculation and Light from Other Stars

About Jess Kidd

I live in West London with my daughter and my dog, Mr Wilks. I was brought up in London as part of a large family from Mayo and started writing in the cupboard under the stairs. Being a shy child among great storytellers it seemed like a good plan to share my stories by writing them down. I haven’t stopped since. I’m currently Writer in Residence at Richmond and Hillcroft Adult Community College where I returned to education as an adult learner.

My latest book is a the Victorian detective mystery Things in Jars (Canongate, U.K. out now. Atria, U.S. out Feb 2020). I’m delighted to tell you that my VERY FIRST CHILDREN’S book called EVERYDAY MAGIC is out in June 2020 (Canongate). I’m now hard at work developing original TV projects – watch this space!

I love hearing from my readers so do get in touch! Via Twitter @JessKiddHerself or my website jesskidd.com

Books on the 7:47

Book review blog / author interviews / all things bookish, review: things in jars by jess kidd.

by Jen | Books on the 7:47
Posted on March 22, 2019 April 28, 2020

Opening sentence: “As pale as a grub she’s an eyeful.”

It’s been a while since I’ve read several books by an author and truly felt their natural, distinctive tone of voice shine through loud and clear in all of them, even when all the books have a very different feel in regards to plot and characters. This was the case with my latest read from Jess Kidd though.

Things in Jars is her third novel and features her distinct style that I’ve come to love. To quote myself in a previous review (is that even a thing? Don’t know, but I’m doing it) for Himself , Jess’ debut novel: ‘the supernatural elements are so lyrically and easily incorporated into the narrative, you suspend your disbelief immediately and go with it.’

So yes, the supernatural elements are Jess’ USP and in this book they come in the form of Ruby Doyle, a charming Irish boxer who just happens to be a ghost. He takes a shine to our lead character, Bridie Devine.

Bridie is a private detective in Victorian London (1863), when women didn’t tend to find themselves in such a profession. We meet her as she’s taking on a new case: the kidnapping of Christabel Berwick. Christabel’s father hires Bridie to find out who has taken his young daughter. With the help of the wonderfully named Inspector Valentine Rose, Bridie must discover who / what Christabel is and who has taken her. The thing is, Christabel may not be completely human… The collecting of curiosities – human or otherwise – is a prominent pastime among certain sections of Victorian London.

The plot is brilliant, you’re really with Bridie as she delves deeper into murky waters to find out Christabel’s story, but what I truly loved was meeting the enigmatic and lovable Bridie and watching her relationship with Ruby Doyle develop. Yes, the ghost. They have this exchange that gives you a great feel for their connection:

Bridie: “I do not believe in ghosts, sir.” Ruby: “Neither do I – why do you not?” Bridie: “I have a scientific mind. Ghosts are a nonsense.”

Special mention to Bridie’s standout housemaid and friend, Cora Butter, ‘the only, and most terrifying, seven-foot-tall housemaid in London.’ This book is just littered with character gems that add to the overall delight of reading.

I have quite unintentionally (been subconsciously drawn to, perhaps?) read a few novels recently set in Victorian England – The Corset by Laura Purcell and The Doll Factory by Elizabeth Macneal are two fantastic examples that you also must read. This point in history really lends itself to such a dynamic, atmospheric narrative: innovation is ripe, The Great Exhibition brings art and technology to the forefront of the country’s identity and the landscape is primed for rich characters and seedy dealings.

Think I may have found my new favourite bookish era. Jess Kidd utilises it perfectly to give such depth to this read. Things in Jars is another fantastic book, keep ’em coming Jess!

Published by Canongate April 2019

10 thoughts

I do like a spooky paranormal element to books and although I don’t read much mystery your lovely review appeals to me.

Like Liked by 1 person

Ah thank you, hope you get round to reading it, it’s so good!

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Righter of Words

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Book Review | Things in Jars

Things in Jars by Jess Kidd follows investigator Bridie Devine, who is tasked with solving the kidnapping of Christabel, daughter of Sir Edmund Berwick. The child, apparently, has been kept secret from the world, and the more Bridie investigates, the more mystery there is surrounding the girl. Combine that with a ghost following Bridie, as well as the haunting memories of her own childhood, and this case is shaping up to be the strangest that she has ever tackled.

So, this book is not really at all what I expected, beyond being a historical mystery with a supernatural twist.

I liked Bridie as a protagonist. She’s bright and brave, and willing to bend the rules of conventional investigations to solve the case. I enjoyed seeing the way the two timelines (the current case, as well as twenty years ago to her childhood) intertwined, showing us many facets of her personality and her various experiences.

I also liked the two main side characters, Cora and Ruby, but the other characters didn’t really jump out at me. It may be because it took me weeks to read this (I kept getting distracted by other books), but I had trouble keeping track of who was who, and how they knew each other.

As for the writing style, I had a bit of trouble adjusting to it. Kidd has a distinctive and interesting narration here, but uses a lot of old slang from Victorian England that I just don’t know. Overall, I struggled a bit with this one some of the time.

The imagery was one of the best parts of this, though. Kidd uses a lot of sensory descriptions to set the scenes, relying on smell and temperature, sounds and sensations, and it’s quite effective. You really feel swept into the grime and chill of London—strangely, it reminds me of the gritty portrayal of the city in the Sherlock Holmes films. That was one of my favorite aspects of this novel.

In the end, though, Things in Jars wasn’t the easiest book for me to get into. The mystery is engaging enough, and I like the main characters, but I wasn’t prepared for just how weird the plot is. The folklore elements are fascinating, the imagery was fantastic, and the flashbacks are interesting, but mostly, I was kind of confused and not entirely invested.

Overall rating: 7/10

Things in Jars

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About The Book

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About The Author

Jess Kidd is the award-winning author of The Night Ship , Himself , Mr. Flood’s Last Resort , and Things in Jars . Learn more at JessKidd.com.

Product Details

Publisher: Atria Books (September 29, 2020)
Length: 400 pages
ISBN13: 9781982121297

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Raves and Reviews

“Miraculous and thrilling . . . A few pages in and I was determined to read every word Jess Kidd has ever written. “ — DIANE SETTERFIELD, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Thirteenth Tale and Once Upon a River "A perfect mix of hilarity, the macabre, and a touch of romance, THINGS IN JARS is ridiculously entertaining, all as it sneaks up and makes you feel things. Would that more books had such daring. The language is perfection. Simply: Jess Kidd is so good it isn't fair." — ERIKA SWYLER , bestselling author of The Book of Speculation and Light from Other Stars " Things in Jars is an extraordinary tale full of dark magic, wicked humour, and hugely entertaining characters all of whom are beautifully drawn. An absolute treat!." — RUTH HOGAN , author of The Keeper of Lost Things "Kidd ( Mr. Flood's Last Resort , 2018, etc.) is an expert at setting a supernatural mood perfect for ghosts and merrows, but her human villains make them seem mundane by comparison. With so much detail and so many clever, Dickensian characters, readers might petition Kidd to give Bridie her own series. Creepy, violent, and propulsive; a standout gothic mystery." — KIRKUS REVIEWS (starred) "Kidd has created a captivating cast of characters and delivers a richly woven tapestry of fantasy, folklore, and history. The atmosphere is thick with myriad unpleasant smells on offer, and readers may find themselves wrinkling their noses, but they will keep turning the pages. Recommend to fans of Ruth Hogan’s The Keeper of Lost Things (2017) and Sarah Perry’s The Essex Serpent (2017)." — BOOKLIST (starred) "Kidd has fashioned enjoyable, indelible characters and a plot that keeps readers guessing, smiling and maybe even flinching." — MINNEAPOLIS STAR TRIBUNE "An enchanting mix of fact and fairytale for those looking for an out of the ordinary mystery." — HUFFINGTON POST "Jess Kidd’s stories are so magical, she should be a genre all to herself … Things in Jars is exquisite. Perfect storytelling.” — JOANNA CANNON , author of The Trouble with Goats and Sheep "This unusual Victorian detective tale is hugely satisfying and beautifully written . . . Kidd gives the world what is instantly one of fiction's great spectral double acts." — THE TIMES (UK) “This pacy piece of Victorian crime fiction delivers chills galore … done with panache … Her imagination runs wild, in tightly controlled prose. Her concision makes the book feel like a high-pressure jar.” — THE GUARDIAN "Thrilling, mysterious, twisted but more than anything, beautifully written and filled to bursting point with heart." — GRAHAM NORTON , New York Times bestselling author of Holding “The murky grotesqueries of Victorian London. The misfits, miscreants and monsters. The tenderness found in the most unexpected of places. I savoured every page of Things in Jars. ” — CLAIRE MCGLASSON , author of The Rapture ” Things in Jars drew me in from the first sentence and held me, transfixed. Utterly beguiling and original, Jess Kidd writes so beautifully that every sentence was a delight. This novel deserves to soar.” — HOLLY CAVE , author of The Memory Chamber "A twisting, precis-defying plot . . . Arresting, funny and well-written." — SUNDAY TIMES "A masterclass in storytelling. One of those books that truly does make you laugh out loud, that shakes and remakes what you think a story can be. It's rare to find a book so satisfying." — KIRAN MILLWOOD HARGRAVE , author of The Mercies

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#BookReview of Things in Jars by Jess Kidd

I wanted to like Things in Jars . “Set in Victorian London, female detective Bridie Devine must find a young girl who has been kidnapped. The young girl in question Christabel, however, is no ordinary child, she’s not supposed to exist”. This was the blurb from the book.

Now I love Sherlock Holmes stories; a brilliant detective cleverly working through the clues, scouring the depths of Victorian London. So, I was intrigued by this offering and duly bought the book. However not all detective stories are alike; we know who took Christabel (well sort of) and we know the girl is different. We also know they’re trying to get her to London. So, this is less of a whodunnit and more of Bridie’s scouring known haunts once she realises that the girl is unusual.

Bridie is a master detective who has a penchant for reading corpses and smoking pipes full of Prudhoes Bronchial Balsam Blend . She’s not sure what it contains and whether it’s affecting her senses. Indeed after smoking the substance, she meets the ghost of Ruby Doyle, a former champion boxer who claims to know ‘Bridgit’ (although she can’t remember ever meeting him). Ruby is to become her companion throughout the remainder of the book. Later, we are introduced to the legend of merrows (mermaids from Irish folklore), we visit a circus freakshow and headless corpses also make an appearance.

So, Things in Jars is a little different; it’s quirky and written for the most part in the present tense. We do however jump back often to Bridie’s past and see the layers of her story slowly unravel. This is where the book becomes interesting as we see the sub-plot of how Bridie’s present world was shaped.

It felt as though some of the more unusual aspects of the book were there to make the main storyline more interesting and keep us away from the sub-plot. Although to be fair I think that Ruby’s character could have been taken further. He would have made an excellent assistant; being an extra pair of eyes and ears that could walk through walls rather than wandering around aimlessly.

Final Thoughts

So overall, did I like Things in Jars ?

Well… Yes and no. I couldn’t relate to Bridie’s character although there are obvious similarities with Holmes’ even down to the pipe-smoking. So, when she got into difficulties, I didn’t worry about her. I also thought that the true villain of the story could and should have been taken a lot further. But be fair Jess Kidd does cleverly bring both plots together at the end.

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Wild Library

Inspired by books and nature, things in jars by jess kidd – book review.

Take an imaginary stroll through eighteenth-century London and it soon becomes apparent that people have a taste for the strange, the macabre, and the supernatural. Pipe-smoking, practical, ugly-bonnet-wearing Bridie Divine doesn’t believe in any of it; not ghosts and definitely not supernatural beings. But when a girl goes missing under mysterious circumstances, Bridie sets off to solve this riddle as strange things seep into the everyday.

After reading The Hoarder/ Mr Flood’s Last Resort , I was eager to try Kidd’s 2019 novel, Things in Jars . I was delighted to discover that the story is written in her engaging narrative style and brimming with a rich cast of characters. Kidd’s careful research brings the gritty parts of eighteenth-century London to life. I always enjoy a fictional exploration of a place and the book is a sensory, if sometimes gruesome, delight with vivid portrayals of London’s underbelly. The city is not merely a backdrop to the action but becomes “this great and monstrous Thing…” (as per Daniel Defoe) as it takes on a sinister life of its own. In his research book, Jerry White describes Georgian London’s marketplace as a place that traded in every type of goods and services… It was a place that entwined and mashed up ideas around class and culture; a hub for criminal activity where violence was commonplace in a society brimming with frustrations and on the brink of civil war. *

These elements are central to Kidd’s storyline which blends the bizarre with everyday realities during an era when British society’s fascination with the supernatural is at its peak. I enjoyed this audiobook and wanted to keep listening until the end although I did feel that some things were not tied up as satisfactory as I would’ve liked. Things in Jars is rightly described as “macabre, gothic, filled with unflinching horrors” and although this might not be my favourite book by Kidd, I’d still recommend it to readers who enjoy history’s more gruesome details. Perfect for the darker autumn days ahead.

Sources and further reading:

https://www.theguardian.com/books/2012/mar/25/london-eighteenth-century-jerry-white-review

Thank you for visiting the Wild Library blog. I love hearing from you! What are you reading this autumn? You might also enjoy The Familiars by Stacey Hall .

Happy reading,

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About the Book

In this “miraculous and thrilling” (Diane Setterfield, #1 New York Times bestselling author) mystery for fans of THE ESSEX SERPENT and THE BOOK OF SPECULATION, Victorian London comes to life as an intrepid female sleuth wades through a murky world of collectors and criminals to recover a remarkable child.

Bridie Devine --- female detective extraordinaire --- is confronted with the most baffling puzzle yet: the kidnapping of Christabel Berwick, secret daughter of Sir Edmund Athelstan Berwick, and a peculiar child whose reputed supernatural powers have captured the unwanted attention of collectors trading curiosities in this age of discovery.

Winding her way through the labyrinthine, sooty streets of Victorian London, Bridie won’t rest until she finds the young girl, even if it means unearthing a past that she’d rather keep buried. Luckily, her search is aided by an enchanting cast of characters, including a seven-foot-tall housemaid; a melancholic, tattoo-covered ghost; and an avuncular apothecary. But secrets abound in this foggy underworld where spectacle is king and nothing is quite what it seems.

Blending darkness and light, history and folklore, THINGS IN JARS is a stunning, “richly woven tapestry of fantasy, folklore, and history” ( Booklist , starred review) that explores what it means to be human in inhumane times.

Things in Jars by Jess Kidd

Publication Date: September 29, 2020
Genres: Fiction , Gothic , Mystery
Paperback: 400 pages
Publisher: Washington Square Press
ISBN-10: 1982121297
ISBN-13: 9781982121297

Things in Jars

Bridie Devine, female detective extraordinaire, is confronted with the most baffling puzzle yet: the kidnapping of Christabel Berwick, secret daughter of Sir Edmund Athelstan Berwick, and a peculiar child whose reputed supernatural powers have captured the unwanted attention of collectors trading curiosities in this age of discovery. Winding her way through the labyrinthine, sooty streets of Victorian London, Bridie won’t rest until she finds the young girl, even if it means unearthing a past that she’d rather keep buried. Luckily, her search is aided by an enchanting cast of characters, including a seven-foot tall housemaid; a melancholic, tattoo-covered ghost; and an avuncular apothecary. But secrets abound in this foggy underworld where spectacle is king and nothing is quite what it seems. Blending darkness and light, history and folklore, Things in Jars is a spellbinding Gothic mystery that collapses the boundary between fact and fairy tale to stunning effect and explores what it means to be human in inhumane times.

Bantering Books Review

“There are things in jars .”

(Note: For optimal effect, the above quote should be read in a whispery, quivery, British-accented voice.)

Oh yes. There are many, many things in jars between the pages of Jess Kidd’s aptly titled novel — and they are all so brilliantly and twistedly delightful.

Bridie Devine, “pipe-smoking detective extraordinaire,” has just accepted quite the unusual case. Christabel Berwick, the secret daughter of Sir Edmund Athelstan Berwick, has been kidnapped right out from under the Baronet’s nose. Rumored to possess extraordinary mythical powers, it appears that Christabel may have attracted the unfortunate attention of those who specialize in the collection of peculiarities.

Urged on by the fatherly desperation of Sir Berwick, Bridie takes to the streets of Victorian London, determined to locate the young girl. Fortunately, Bridie has help from two unusual allies – Cora, Bridie’s seven-foot-tall giantess housemaid, and Ruby, a tattooed ghost from Bridie’s past. Together, the eccentric threesome must race against time to save Christabel from the clutches of those who wish to add one more prized possession to their cabinets of curiosities.

Earlier this year, I had the profound pleasure of reading Kidd’s debut novel, Himself , and I fell utterly in love with her writing. I adored the lovely mix of mystery and magical realism of the story; I was amazed by how skillfully the narrative was weaved. I discovered that Kidd’s writing is breathtakingly beautiful.

Since then, I have eagerly awaited my opportunity to read Things in Jars . My excitement and anticipation for this book have been difficult to contain. I have known without doubt that Kidd would not disappoint. I have known I would love every magnificent word of it.

And correct, I was.

Things in Jars is captivating. It is a clever, wonderfully creative, and mesmerizing gothic mystery. Masterfully blending magical realism and Irish folklore with the paranormal, Kidd tells a tale that is both unique and fantastical. I found myself completely under Kidd’s spell, wholly immersed in the enchantment of the story.

Kidd’s writing has a very whimsical air to it. (In my review of Himself , I even went so far as to compare her to Neil Gaiman – and I still fully stand behind that assessment.) Her prose is gorgeously lyrical and elegantly readable. All major and minor characters are fully developed, likable, and memorable. (I dare you to not love Bridie, Cora, and Ruby. I double dare you, even.)

Kidd establishes setting like no other – you can literally see, hear, feel, taste, and smell Victorian London, in all its dreary, dirty glory. (Although, I do think at times she gets a bit overly descriptive of certain scenes, to the point where the reader is dropped out of the story for a short period due to the large influx of information. But a minor complaint.) She sets a very wry, witty tone to the narrative, and she has such a knack for infusing warmth and humor into what is, indeed, an extremely dark story.

Aah yes . . . the darkness. Be forewarned — Things in Jars is not for the faint of heart. It is brutal and gruesome. It is bloody and gritty. There are scenes of disturbing animal cruelty and graphic surgical procedures. There is violence against women. (One violent scene against a female character, I found particularly bothersome because it seemed a bit gratuitous and unnecessary to the story. I could’ve done without it.)

To be certain, Things in Jars is not without its horrors. And know that these horrors make for squeamish moments of reading.

But to Kidd’s credit, she somehow manages to deftly offset all that darkness with light. Again, her writing is so charming and funny, and she brings such whimsy to the story, that it’s almost as if she masks, or cloaks, the gruesomeness. Or sort of smudges the edges of the blackness to where it all becomes a bit fuzzy. Or gently nudges the reader’s focus more towards the light, rather than the dark. It’s quite remarkable, the perfect balancing act she achieves between such a stark dichotomy.

And that melding of dark and light is part of what makes Things in Jars such a special read.

Mystery lovers, magical realism lovers, just plain ol’ good fiction lovers – do not miss this one. I wholeheartedly recommend it . . . and hope that this will not be our first and only adventure with Bridie Devine.

May there be many more to come.

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Who knew what Taylor Swift’s latest era would bring? Or even what it would sound like? Would it build off the moodiness of “Midnights” or the folk of “evermore” ? The country or the ‘80s pop of her latest re-records? Or its two predecessors in black-and-white covers: the revenge-pop of “Reputation” and the literary Americana of “folklore” ?

“The Tortured Poets Department,” here Friday, is an amalgamation of all of the above, reflecting the artist who — at the peak of her powers — has spent the last few years re-recording her life’s work and touring its material, filtered through synth-pop anthems, breakup ballads, provocative and matured considerations.

In moments, her 11th album feels like a bloodletting: A cathartic purge after a major heartbreak delivered through an ascendant vocal run, an elegiac verse, or mobile, synthesized productions that underscore the powers of Swift’s storytelling.

And there are surprises. The lead single and opener “Fortnight” is “1989” grown up — and features Post Malone . It might seem like a funny pairing, but it’s a long time coming: Since at least 2018, Swift’s fans have known of her love for Malone’s “Better Now.”

Taylor Swift’s “The Tortured Poets Department” is here.

In her review, AP Music Writer Maria Sherman calls it “an amalgamation of an artist who has spent the last few years re-recording her life’s work and touring its material , filtered through synth-pop anthems, breakup ballads, provocative and matured subject matter.”
Swift announced a surprise two hours after the album release: 15 additional tracks.
The project is Swift’s first original album since her record-breaking Eras Tour kicked off last year.

“But Daddy I Love Him” is the return of country Taylor, in some ways — fairytale songwriting, a full band chorus, a plucky acoustic guitar riff, and a cheeky lyrical reversal: “But Daddy I love him / I’m having his baby / No, I’m not / But you should see your faces.” (Babies appear on “Florida!!!” and the bonus track “The Manuscript” as well.)

The fictitious “Fresh Out The Slammer” begins with a really pretty psych guitar tone that disappears beneath wind-blown production; the new wave-adjacent “My Boy Only Breaks His Favorite Toys” brings back “Barbie” : “I felt more when we played pretend than with all the Kens / ‘Cause he took me out of my box.”

Even before Florence Welch kicks off her verse in “Florida!!!,” the chorus’ explosive repetition of the song title hits hard with nostalgic 2010s indie rock, perhaps an alt-universe Swiftian take on Sufjan Stevens’ “Illinois.”

As another title states, “So Long, London,” indeed.

It would be a disservice to read Swift’s songs as purely diaristic, but that track — the fifth on this album, which her fans typically peg as the most devastating slot on each album — evokes striking parallels to her relationship with a certain English actor she split with in 2023. Place it next to a sleepy love ode like “The Alchemy,” with its references to “touchdown” and cutting someone “from the team” and well ... art imitates life .

Revenge is still a pervasive theme. But where the reprisal anthems on “Midnights” were vindictive, on “The Tortured Poets Department,” there are new complexities: “Who’s Afraid of Little Old Me?” combines the musical ambitiousness of “evermore” and “folklore” — and adds a resounding bass on the bridge — with sensibilities ripped from the weapons-drawn, obstinate “Reputation.” But here, Swift mostly trades victimhood for self-assurance, warts and all.

“Who’s afraid of little old me?” she sings. “You should be,” she responds.

And yet, “The Smallest Man Who Ever Lived” may be her most biting song to date: “You didn’t measure up in any measure of a man,” she sings atop propulsive piano. “I’ll forget you, but I won’t ever forgive,” she describes her target, likely the same “tattooed golden retriever,” a jejune description, mentioned in the title track.

Missteps are few, found in other mawkish lyrics and songs like “Down Bad” and “Guilty as Sin?” that falter when placed next to the album’s more meditative pop moments.

Elsewhere, Swift holds up a mirror to her melodrama and melancholy — she’s crying at the gym, don’t tell her about “sad,” is she allowed to cry? She died inside, she thinks you might want her dead; she thinks she might just die. She listens to the voices that tell her “Lights, camera, bitch, smile / Even when you want to die,” as she sings on “I Can Do It with a Broken Heart,” a song about her own performances — onstage and as a public figure.

FILE - Beyoncé performs at the Wolstein Center, Nov. 4, 2016, in Cleveland, Ohio. With the release of "Act II: Cowboy Carter,'' Beyoncé has reignited discussions about the genre’s origins and its diversity. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, File)

“I’m miserable and nobody even knows!” she laughs at the end of the song before sighing, “Try and come for my job.”

“Clara Bow” enters the pantheon of great final tracks on a Swift album. The title refers to the 1920s silent film star who burned fast and bright — an early “It girl” and Hollywood sex symbol subject to vitriolic gossip, a victim of easy, everyday misogyny amplified by celebrity. Once Bow’s harsh Brooklyn accent was heard in the talkies, it was rumored, her career was over.

A glimpse of Clara Bow’s life in photos

Actress Clara Bow shown on Sept. 3, 1932. (AP Photo, File)

This 1930 photo shows Clara Bow, the original “It” girl. (AP Photo, File)

This early 1930s file photo shows actress Clara Bow in New York. (AP Photo/File)

In life, Bow later attempted suicide and was sent to an asylum — the same institution that appears on “Who’s Afraid of Little Old Me?” “Clara Bow” works as an allegory and a cautionary tale for Swift, the same way Stevie Nicks’ “Mabel Normand” — another tragic silent film star — functioned for the Fleetwood Mac star.

Nicks appears in “Clara Bow,” too: “You look like Stevie Nicks in ’75 / The hair and lips / Crowd goes wild.”

Later, Swift turns the camera inward, and the song ends with her singing, “You look like Taylor Swift in this light / We’re loving it / You’ve got edge / She never did.” The album ends there, on what could be read as self-deprecation but stings more like frustrating self-awareness.

Swift sings about a tortured poet, but she is one, too. And isn’t it great that she’s allowed herself the creative license?

Literature & Fiction
Genre Fiction

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Things in jars: a novel audible audiobook – unabridged.

In this "miraculous and thrilling" (Diane Setterfield, number one New York Times best-selling author) mystery for fans of The Essex Serpent and The Book of Speculation , Victorian London comes to life as an intrepid female sleuth wades through a murky world of collectors and criminals to recover a remarkable child.

Bridie Devine - flame-haired, pipe-smoking detective extraordinaire - is confronted with the most baffling puzzle yet: the kidnapping of Christabel Berwick, secret daughter of Sir Edmund Athelstan Berwick, and a peculiar child whose reputed supernatural powers have captured the unwanted attention of collectors in this age of discovery.

Winding her way through the sooty streets of Victorian London, Bridie won’t rest until she finds the young girl, even if it means unearthing secrets about her past that she’d rather keep buried. Luckily, her search is aided by an enchanting cast of characters, including a seven-foot-tall housemaid; a melancholic, tattoo-covered ghost; and an avuncular apothecary. But secrets abound in this foggy underworld where nothing is quite what it seems.

Blending darkness and light, Things in Jars is a stunning, "richly woven tapestry of fantasy, folklore, and history" ( Booklist starred review) that explores what it means to be human in inhumane times.

Listening Length 11 hours and 29 minutes
Author Jess Kidd
Narrator Jacqueline Milne
Audible release date February 4, 2020
Language English
Publisher Simon & Schuster Audio
ASIN B07VP65K5L
Version Unabridged
Program Type Audiobook
See all details

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Liz Truss on the comeback trail with public appearances and a new book – but can you spot the real things she said?

Liz Truss quiz: did she really say that in her book?

Can you guess which things Liz Truss actually claimed in her book and which are our fantastic inventions?

Cometh the hour, cometh the memoir, and from Tuesday people can enjoy in full the apocalyptically titled Liz Truss book Ten Years to Save the West. She says she wants people to read it to “learn the lessons of the battle I lost”. That battle apparently being staying in Downing Street for more than 49 days. But how much have you picked up from the published snippets and Truss’s interviews about her book? Can you spot what she actually said from our ridiculous inventions? And did she really think that about the Queen dying? Find out with our Liz Truss quiz!

The Guardian’s Liz Truss quiz

2. What does Truss say she thought when was informed that Queen Elizabeth II had died? "Bloody hell" "This is so unfair" "Why me? Why now?" "I have no black dresses in Downing Street yet" Reveal
3. Which supermarket does Truss complain found it difficult to deliver to her in Downing Street? Lidl Tesco Sainsbury's Ocado Reveal
4. What did Liz Truss say about the accommodation for the prime minister in Downing Street "It was gaudy and full of tat" "I'm not sure it would be rated well on Airbnb" "My cats immediately hated it and fought with Larry" "You wouldn't expect Emmanuel Macron to live like this" Reveal

6. Who kept leaving protein shakes with their name on in the grace-and-favour home Truss used as foreign secretary? Dominic Raab Gavin Williamson James Cleverly Michael Gove Reveal

8. In her book, Liz Truss said "By 2022, the average Briton was no better off than they were in 2007, and the state was spending too much — almost half of the UK's national income". How many of those years between 2007 and 2022 had Liz Truss spent as a member of the government? Four Six Eight Ten Reveal
9. Who had to pop to the shops and buy Liz Truss some cough medicine, which she said showed the lack of support she had? Liz Truss The husband of Liz Truss One of Liz Truss's children The prime minister's diary secretary Reveal
10. Who did Liz Truss say she mistook for Dr Jill Biden at the UN general assembly in 2022? The French president's wife, Brigitte Macron Ukrainian first lady Olena Zelenska The former prime minister of New Zealand, Jacinda Ardern The prime minister of Denmark, Mette Frederiksen Reveal
11. What did Truss say she was pleased her daughters were able to do while she was prime minister? Climb the Elizabeth Tower and see Big Ben in action Sit in on a cabinet meeting as "work experience" Visit the nuclear bunker Live away from Downing Street altogether, as Truss quit before they were scheduled to move in Reveal
12. Why does Liz Truss say she regrets announcing her mini-budget on a Friday? Because it couldn't be discussed on the BBC's Question Time show on a Thursday night Because it would be several days before she could address it at PMQs Because she gave her Conservative opponents a whole weekend to co-ordinate their opposition Because it meant she had to spend the weekend in Downing Street instead of escaping to the country Reveal

14. How did Truss describe the situation as she lay awake the night before having to sack her chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng? "It was like a game of Dungeons & Dragons where the rest of your party has fled, and you stand alone against the ogre of the economic establishment" "It was like a game of Tetris when you start losing control and the pieces are getting closer and closer to the top" "It was like a game of Pac-Man when you've run out of power pills and the ghosts are closing in" "It was like a game of Space Invaders when the bunkers have crumbled and the aliens have sped right up" Reveal
15. What did Jeremy Hunt do when Liz Truss first phoned him to ask him to be chancellor Rejected the call because he didn't recognise the number Refused the job on the grounds he thought he was being pranked by a hoax Said "Bloody hell!" Accepted immediately but only on the condition his Peloton bike would be allowed in his office Reveal

More on this story

Hoopla around Truss and Rayner shows Michael Ashcroft still steering the debate

‘Five-year-old on acid’: Liz Truss’s Ten Years to Save the West, digested by John Crace

‘She still carries an aura of spectacular failure’: why hasn’t Liz Truss gone away?

Trussonomic lessons: what can be learned from former PM’s book?

Ten Years to Save the West by Liz Truss review – shamelessly unrepentant

Liz Truss has kindly offered to ‘save the west’. But who will save her from her delusions?

What does Liz Truss’s book tell us about her American ambitions?

There’s a gaping hole at the centre of the Tory party where ideas should be. The risk is Liz Truss will fill it

Senior Tories fear Johnson and Truss will sabotage Sunak’s election campaign

The greatest mystery of modern politics? Liz Truss’s self belief

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Review: Things In Jars by Jess Kidd
Book Review: "Things in Jars" by Jess Kidd
Review: Things in Jars by Jess Kidd
Things in Jars
Book Review
ARC Book Review: Things in Jars by Jess Kidd

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COMMENTS

Things in Jars by Jess Kidd
A difficult book to put into any category, Things in Jars is a magnificent trip down the Victorian rabbit hole. It has many things: an unconventional love story, a kick-ass heroine, an unlovable, but poignant child/monster, the seedy side of London, and the power of friends in the darkness. ... So many of my Goodread's friends really loved this ...
Things in Jars by Jess Kidd review
Things in Jars is published by Canongate (£14.99). To order a copy go to guardianbookshop.com or call 0330 333 6846. Free UK p&p over £15, online orders only.
THINGS IN JARS
There's a lot going on in this singular novel, and none of it pretty. Bridie's London is soaked with mud and blood, and her past is nightmarish at best. Kidd ( Mr. Flood's Last Resort, 2018, etc.) is an expert at setting a supernatural mood perfect for ghosts and merrows, but her human villains make them seem mundane by comparison.
Gothic Horror Fiction, Old and New
Lately, my favorite fiction has transported me out of the terrors of the present and thrust me back in time. Take Jess Kidd's utterly mesmerizing third novel, THINGS IN JARS (Atria, 369 pp., $27 ...
Summary and reviews of Things in Jars by Jess Kidd
This information about Things in Jars was first featured in "The BookBrowse Review" - BookBrowse's membership magazine, and in our weekly "Publishing This Week" newsletter.Publication information is for the USA, and (unless stated otherwise) represents the first print edition. The reviews are necessarily limited to those that were available to us ahead of publication.
Book Review: "Things in Jars" by Jess Kidd
"Things in Jars" by Jess Kidd. Publisher Synopsis: In the dark underbelly of Victorian London, a formidable female sleuth is pulled into the macabre world of fanatical anatomists and crooked surgeons while investigating the kidnapping of an extraordinary child in this gothic mystery—perfect for fans of The Essex Serpent and The Book of Speculation.
Things in Jars (Kidd)
Things in Jars Jess Kidd, 2020 Atria Books 384 pp. ISBN-13: 9781982121280 Summary In the dark underbelly of Victorian London, a formidable female sleuth is pulled into the macabre world of fanatical anatomists and crooked surgeons while investigating the kidnapping of an extraordinary child in this gothic mystery—perfect for fans of The Essex Serpent as well as The Book of Speculation.
Things in Jars review: A wonderful portrait of Victorian London
Things in Jars. Author: Jess Kidd. ISBN-13: 978-1786893765. Publisher: Canongate. Guideline Price: £14.99. If there was an Oscar ceremony for books, then Jess Kidd's Victorian mystery Things in ...
Things in Jars by Jess Kidd Book Review
Blending darkness and light, history and folklore, Things in Jars is a spellbinding Gothic mystery that collapses the boundary between fact and fairy tale to stunning effect and explores what it means to be human in inhumane times. I received this book free to review; however, all opinions are my own. This post contains affiliate links.
Things in Jars: A Novel by Kidd, Jess
Jess's third novel, Things in Jars, was published to critical acclaim. Her fourth book, an epic shipwreck saga called The Night Ship, is out this year. Jess won the Costa Short Story Award in 2016 with 'Dirty Little Fishes' and has recently contributed short fiction to The Haunting Season, a collection of ghostly winter tales.
Amazon.com: Things in Jars: A Novel: 9781982121280: Kidd, Jess: Books
Jess's third novel, Things in Jars, was published to critical acclaim. Her fourth book, an epic shipwreck saga called The Night Ship, is out this year. Jess won the Costa Short Story Award in 2016 with 'Dirty Little Fishes' and has recently contributed short fiction to The Haunting Season, a collection of ghostly winter tales.
Things in Jars: A Novel
Things in Jars: A Novel. Jess Kidd. Simon and Schuster, Feb 4, 2020 - Fiction - 384 pages. In the dark underbelly of Victorian London, a formidable female sleuth is pulled into the macabre world of fanatical anatomists and crooked surgeons while investigating the kidnapping of an extraordinary child in this gothic mystery—perfect for fans of ...
Things in Jars: A Novel Kindle Edition
An Amazon Best Book of February 2020: Things in Jars depicts a Victorian world in which wealthy men of science compete with circus owners to purchase and collect all manner of oddities. And it's only after Bridie Devine, a stout, fearless lady detective, calls to the home of a Mr. Berwick, whose daughter Christabel's been kidnapped, that Bridie realizes that the elder Berwick is also a ...
Review: Things in Jars by Jess Kidd
Review: Things in Jars by Jess Kidd. Opening sentence: "As pale as a grub she's an eyeful.". It's been a while since I've read several books by an author and truly felt their natural, distinctive tone of voice shine through loud and clear in all of them, even when all the books have a very different feel in regards to plot and characters.
Book Review
Book Review | Things in Jars. On December 5, 2020 December 3, 2020 By Jenny A. ... In the end, though, Things in Jars wasn't the easiest book for me to get into. The mystery is engaging enough, and I like the main characters, but I wasn't prepared for just how weird the plot is. The folklore elements are fascinating, the imagery was ...
Things in Jars
"Miraculous and thrilling . . . A few pages in and I was determined to read every word Jess Kidd has ever written. " —DIANE SETTERFIELD, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Thirteenth Tale and Once Upon a River "A perfect mix of hilarity, the macabre, and a touch of romance, THINGS IN JARS is ridiculously entertaining, all as it sneaks up and makes you feel things.
Book Marks reviews of Things in Jars by Jess Kidd
Things in Jars by Jess Kidd has an overall rating of Positive based on 12 book reviews. Things in Jars by Jess Kidd has an overall rating of Positive based on 12 book reviews. Features; New Books; ... but that's not to say that Things in Jars is a frivolous book. For all its humour and colour, and there's plenty of both, this is a story of ...
#BookReview of Things in Jars by Jess Kidd
Blending darkness and light, history and folklore, Things in Jars is a spellbinding Gothic mystery that collapses the boundary between fact and fairy tale to stunning effect and explores what it means to be human in inhumane times. My Review. I wanted to like Things in Jars. "Set in Victorian London, female detective Bridie Devine must find a ...
Things in Jars by Jess Kidd
Things in Jars by Jess Kidd - Audiobook Take an imaginary stroll through eighteenth-century London and it soon becomes apparent that people have a taste for the strange, the macabre, and the supernatural. Pipe-smoking, practical, ugly-bonnet-wearing Bridie Divine doesn't believe in any of it; not ghosts and definitely not supernatural beings.
All Book Marks reviews for Things in Jars by Jess Kidd
A positive rating based on 12 book reviews for Things in Jars by Jess Kidd. Features; New Books; Biggest New Books; Fiction; Non-Fiction; All Categories; First Readers Club Daily Giveaway; How It Works; ... but that's not to say that Things in Jars is a frivolous book. For all its humour and colour, and there's plenty of both, this is a ...
Things in Jars
Blending darkness and light, history and folklore, THINGS IN JARS is a stunning, "richly woven tapestry of fantasy, folklore, and history" ( Booklist, starred review) that explores what it means to be human in inhumane times. Things in Jars. by Jess Kidd. Publication Date: September 29, 2020. Genres: Fiction, Gothic, Mystery. Paperback: 400 ...
Things in Jars
Things in Jars by Jess Kidd Published by Atria Books on April 4, 2019 Pages: 369 View Title on Goodreads Bantering Books Rating: Bridie Devine, female detective extraordinaire, is confronted with the most baffling puzzle yet: the kidnapping of Christabel Berwick, secret daughter of Sir Edmund Athelstan Berwick, and a peculiar child whose reputed supernatural powers have captured the unwanted ...
Review: Taylor Swift's 'The Tortured Poets Department' is great
Music Review: Taylor Swift's 'The Tortured Poets Department' is great sad pop, meditative theater. Taylor Swift fans took over the Grove in Los Angeles on Tuesday to celebrate Swift's upcoming album, "The Tortured Poets Department.". An installation organized by Spotify hid clues about lyrics contained on the record.
Things in Jars: A Novel
Jess Kidd's novels have been on my radar for quite a while, so I was thrilled to receive a review copy of Things in Jars. The novel follows female investigator Bridie Devine, as she takes on the case of finding a missing child in 1860s London. ... Book reviews & recommendations: IMDb Movies, TV & Celebrities: IMDbPro Get Info Entertainment ...
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The Guardian's Liz Truss quiz. 1. What did Truss say was the advice that the Queen gave her when she was made prime minister? "Always pack a black dress". "Pace yourself". "Being a woman in ...

THINGS IN JARS

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